Nasal applicators

ABSTRACT

1,085,060. Pressurized dispensing containers. BENGER LABORATORIES Ltd. Nov. 5, 1964 [Nov.22, 1963], No.46123/63. Heading F1R. A nasal applicator for the application of a medicament contained in a pressurized container 14 has a rigid tube 1 connected to a spray button 4 engageable with the valve stem 13, by ribs 5 which provide air passages into the tube 1. The tube has a skirt 3 surrounding the upper part of the container 14, air inlet passages being formed by slots (9) which also receive lugs 11 on a cap 10 for the tube 1. A casing 15 may be clipped on to the skirt 3, a hole 17 being provided for moving the container relative to the button 4. In a modification the cap 10 engages the tube 1, slots 9 are not provided and air flows through the hole 17; the interior of the casing 15 may be provided with ribs.

May 23, 1967 F. WRIGHT NASAL APPLICATORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 13,1964 IN VEN TOR. Frank Wright ATTOR N 5Y5 May 3, 1967 F WRIGHT 3,320,952

NASAL APPLICATORS Filed Nov. 13, 1964 f 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /0 l I! l /0 Il I l o W 4 /3 L ,1 4 /3 2 H /2 l2 F r 3 W k w 3 3 Y 5 H6 5 M I J /4 FIG6 4 y 5K5 4 2 i- H h Ml H 3 :\I'-' 12"? /4 3/ L' INVENTOR. f FrankWright BY MM,M Q ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice 3 ,320,952Patented May 23, 1967 3,320,952 NASAL APPLICATGRS Frank Wright,Rurlheath, Northwich, England, assignor to Fisons PharmaceuticalsLimited, Loughhorough, Leicestershire, England Filed Nov. 13, 1964, Ser.No. 410,917 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Nov. 22, 1963,

3 Claims. (Cl. 128173) This invention is concerned with improvements inor relating to applicators for the application of medicaments by nasalinhalation.

A number of medicaments may be administered by nasal application. Thus,medicaments intended for nasal application are often of the decongestanttype intended to relieve congestion in the upper part of the nose and inthe sinuses. Other drugs which may be applied by nasal inhalation arethose intended to relieve inflammation in the upper nose and in thesinuses. Drugs for systemic action can also be administered by thisroute.

Such medicaments are normally applied in liquid form by means of a shortrigid tube of glass or other thermoplastic material which is insertedinto the nostril, the medicament being forced through the tube by theaction of a compressible rubber bulb or like means. Such devices are, ingeneral, inefiicient in supplying the medicament in uniform dosages andare, therefore, not suitable for the clinical application of medicamentsby nasal inhalation. Further, such devices generally supply the liquidin the form of thin stream or as a stream of relatively large dropletswith consequent inefficiency in absorption.

of the medicament.

It has been found convenient to apply medicaments for nasal inhalationby means of pressurised packs; i.e., by dispersing the medicament in apropellant in a pressurised container, the pressurised containerpreferably being fitted with a valve of such a type as to deliver ametered dose of the medicament. Such pressurised packs are fitted with arigid tube for insertion into the nostril as described above. Wheninhaling medicaments with this form of applicator it is difiicult toobtain suitable dispersion of the medicament in air as no air is inhaledtherewith. Furthermore, dangers may arise from the discharge of a closeof medicament into a nostril blocked at its upper end with mucus and itslower end with the applicator, as the expanding dose of medicament maydamage the membrane. It is an object of the present invention to providean improved nasal applicator for applying a medicament contained in apressurised container.

According to the invention, therefore, there is provided an improvednasal applicator for the application of a medicament contained in apressurised container which comprises a rigid tube having mounted in thelower part thereof and co-axial therewith a spray button adapted toengage with the stem of a pressurised container and to spray themedicament along the length of the rigid tube, said spray button beingmounted in said rigid tube by struts or supports so as to provide airpassages between the outside of said button and the inside of said rigidtube. With this applicator, pressure due to expanding propellant cannotbuild up in the nostril, and in general good dispersion of themedicament in air is obtained.

Preferably the lower end of the rigid tube connects with or forms partof a hollow frusto-conical member which in turn connects with or formspart of a skirt adapted to surround the upper portion of the pressurisedcontainer.

In a modification of this arrangement the skirt extends to form acylindrical casing enclosing the pressurised container; the casinghaving an opening in the lower end wall thereof to enable the containerto be urged towards the spray button, to actuate the container valve, byfinger pressure. Alternatively a bush-button may be provided operatingthrough an opening in the lower end wall to urge the container towardsthe spray button. In order to facilitate manufacture and assembly of thedevice the cylindrical casing or part thereof may be a separate mouldingsecured to the skirt by any desired means, e.g., welding, glueing, or,preferably, by a clip fit.

In order to prevent dust from entering the spray tube the device ispreferably fitted with a removeable cap fitting over the spray tube.This cap may 'be a simple friction fitting cap fitting over the spraytube or may be more elaborate. For example, an improved form of cap forthe applicator has lugs depending from the lower portion thereof whichlugs rest upon the shoulders of the pressurised container to preventaccidental discharge of the container. Where the applicator has a lowerfrustoconical portion, the lugs pass through slots therein and mayengage therewith in a bayonet cap action to lock the cap. The applicatorand cap are conveniently made of thermoplastic material such as nylonand may be made by injection or other form of moulding.

The applicator is conveniently designed to be used in conjunction withpressurised containers having a nominal capacity of, for example, about10 cc. Preferably the pressurised container is one having a meteringvalve, i.e. a valve delivering a metered dose on actuation; a widevariety of such valves being known.

In order that the invention may be well understood a preferredembodiment thereof will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross-section through one preferred applicatoraccording to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view at the line AA in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 shows the applicator shown in FIGURE 1 in position on apressurised container;

FIGURE 4 is similar to FIGURE 3 and shows the preferred form of cap inposition;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-section through another preferred form ofassembly with bayonet locking cap; and

FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross-section through a device similar to thatshown in FIGURE 5 but having a simple friction fitting cap.

Referring now to the drawings, an applicator comprises a delivery tube 1having a shoulder portion 2 and a skirt portion 3. Mounted within tube 1by means of ribs 5 is spray button 4 which has a stern receiving chamber6, a spray chamber 7 and spray hole 8. Re ferring to FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 4and 5, shoulder portion 2 of the applicator is provided with slots 9 topermit passage of lugs 11 of a cap 10 as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5.

FIGURE 3 shows the applicator in position on a pressurised containerwith chamber 6 surrounding the top of stem 13 of valve 12 of pressurisedcontainer 14. In operation depression of the complete applicatormechanism operates valve 12 and the pressurized medicament is expelledvia chamber 7 and hole 8 through tube 1 to be inhaled together with airpassing between ribs 5.

FIGURES 4 and 5 show cap 10 in position with lugs 11 passing throughslots 9 to engage on container 14 to prevent accidental discharge of thedevice. Preferably lugs 11 co-act with slots 9 so as to lock the cap inposition by a bayonet cap action.

Referring now to FIGURES 5 and 6, cylindrical casing 15 clip fits ontothe outside of skirt 3 and encloses container 14. Through opening 17 inthe lower end wall 16 of casing 15 passes push-button 18 which serves toactuate the dispenser. In a modification of this construction opening 17is left open and is wide enough to admit a finger to actuate the device.There is a space between the outside of container 14 and the inside ofcasing 15 to permit the flow of air through the casing. If desired,container 14 may be spaced from the inside of casing 15 by longitudinalribs. In FIGURE 6, cap 10 is a close friction fit to delivery tube 1.

In operation push-button 18 is pressed to urge container 14 towardsspray button .4 to actuate valve 12.

I claim:

1. A nasal applicator, for the application of a medicament contained ina pressurised container having a stem for dispensing the medicament,which comprises a pressurised container, a rigid tube the lower end ofwhich has a hollow frusto-conical member thereon, a skirt on the lowerend of said frusto-conical member and surrounding the upper portion ofthe pressurised container, said rigid tube having mounted in the lowerpart thereof and coaxial therewith a spray button engaging with the stemof the pressurised container and adapted to spray the medicament alongthe length of the tube, struts mounting said spray button in said rigidtube so as to provide air passages between the outside of said buttonand the inside of said rigid tube, a cap having slotted lugs dependentfrom the lower portion thereof and passing through slots in said hollowfrusto-conical member and resting on the pressurised container, saidslotted lugs locking the cap in position andpreventing relative movementbetween said pressurised container and said hollow frusto-conical memberin the direction of movement of said tube toward and away from saidcontainer.

2. A nasal applicator as claimed in claim 1 in which said slotted lugseach have a lateral extension on the end thereof coacting with saidstruts to lock said cap in position by a bayonet type action.

3. A nasal applicator, for the application of a medicament contained ina pressurised container having a stem for dispensing the medicament,which comprises a pressurised container, a rigid tube the lower end ofwhich has a hollow frusto-conical member thereon, a cylindrical casingadapted to enclose a pressurised container and having an opening in thelower end wall thereof, a pushbutton extending through said opening inthe lower end wall of said cylindrical casing, said rigid tube havingmounted in the lower part thereof and coaxial therewith a spray buttonengaging with the stern of the pressurised container and adapted tospray the medicament along the length of the tube, struts mounting saidspray button in said rigid tube so as to provide air passages betweenthe outside of said button and the inside of said rigid tube, a caphaving slotted lugs dependent from the lower portion thereof and passingthrough slots in said hollow frusto-conical member and resting on thepressurised container, said slotted lugs locking the cap in position andpreventing relative movement between said pressurised container and saidhollow frusto-conical member in the direction of movement of said tubetoward and away from said container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,998,822 9/1961Birch et a1. 15552 3,001,524 9/1961 Maison et al 128208 3,012,55512/1961 Meshberg 128-208 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

K. L. HOWELL, Assistant Examiner.

1. A NASAL APPLICATOR, FOR THE APPLICATION OF A MEDICAMENT CONTAINED INA PRESSURISED CONTAINER HAVING A STEM FOR DISPENSING THE MEDICAMENT,WHICH COMPRISES A PRESSURISED CONTAINER, A RIGID TUBE THE LOWER END OFWHICH HAS A HOLLOW FRUSTO-CONICAL MEMBER THEREON, A SKIRT ON THE LOWEREND OF SAID FRUSTO-CONICAL MEMBER AND SURROUNDING THE UPPER PORTION OFTHE PRESSURISED CONTAINER, SAID RIGID TUBE HAVING MOUNTED IN THE LOWERPART THEREOF AND COAXIAL THEREWITH A SPRAY BUTTON ENGAGING WITH THE STEMOF THE PRESSURISED CONTAINER AND ADAPTED TO SPRAY THE MEDICAMENT ALONGTHE LENGTH OF THE TUBE, STRUTS MOUNTING SAID SPRAY BUTTON IN SAID RIGIDTUBE SO AS TO PROVIDE AIR PASSAGES BETWEEN THE OUTSIDE OF SAID BUTTONAND THE INSIDE OF SAID RIGID TUBE, A CAP HAVING SLOTTED LUGS DEPENDENTFROM THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF AND PASSING THROUGH SLOTS IN SAID HOLLOWFRUSTO-CONICAL MEMBER AND RESTING ON THE PRESSURISED CONTAINER, SAIDSLOTTED LUGS LOCKING THE CAP IN POSITION AND PREVENTING RELATIVEMOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID PRESSURISED CONTAINER AND SAID HOLLOWFRUSTO-CONICAL MEMBER IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID TUBE TOWARDAND AWAY FROM SAID CONTAINER.